In what time do you expect to finish your Half marathon? That makes the difference on what to carry. Have you trained with sports drinks yet?
I am doing a half marathon this Sat and I am planning on carrying 3 gu's and drinking what they have on the course. I will probably only need 2 of the gu's but like to have 3 just in case. when is your race? It's best to practice with what your going to use on one of your long training runs.
Good luck~
kc
I'm pretty minimal 1 gu and car keys and maybe my phone.
I'll get gatorade/water on the course and an extra gu there too if i need it but i can eat almost anything.
I ran my first half marathon last weekend and I didn't have much on me. I took a GU before I ran but I wish that I would have brought one more. Besides that I had my pedometer on my wrist so I could keep track of my pace. I got my water and Gatorade on the course. I would say the less you have to carry the better.
I'd eat a small meal preferably 3 hours before the race if you're up early enough, or at least 2 hours before. Gu about 30 minutes before the start, then every hour. Put the Gu packs in your shorts pocket if you have one; I wouldn't wear a pack. Less weight is better.
A large meal the night before and a medium breakfast is enough to fuel for half-marathon. You may ingest a pack of GU/Gel about 30 minutes before the race and drink enough gatorade to wash it down. Just drink sport drinks that the race provides as needed.
I always take a bottle of gatorade for the first 3 miles so that I can skip early aid stations where the crowds get thick. Many courses have gel packs at aid stations later in the race, I usually only carry one gel pack and then get more on the course if I need it. Check the course map for your race to find out where gel packs are handed out.
I'd agree that you don't need to carry much at all. Most runs have tons of water and sports drinks available (although I do think it's a good idea to skip the first one or two to avoid the crowds). Take a GU packet or 2 and you'll be fine. Good luck!
